And the other day Drina hid in a clothes-press while Nina was discussing my private affairs, and when the little imp emerged I could have shaken her.

Oh, I am certainly becoming infirm; so if you are, too, comfort yourself with the knowledge that I am keeping pace with you through the winter of our discontent." At the mention of the incident of which Drina had already spoken to him, Selwyn raised his head and looked at the girl curiously.

Then he laughed.
"I am wondering," he said in a bantering voice, "what secrets Drina heard.

I think I'd better ask her--" "You had better not! Besides, _I_ said nothing at all." "But Nina did." She nodded, lying there, arms raised, hands clasping the upholstered wings of the big chair, and gazing at him out of indolent, amused eyes.
"Would you like to know what Nina was saying to me ?" she asked.
"I'd rather hear what you said to her." "I told you that I said nothing." "Not a word ?" he insisted.
"Not a word." "Not even a sound ?" "N--well--I won't answer that." "Oho!" he laughed.

"So you did make some sort of inarticulate reply! Were you laughing or weeping ?" "Perhaps I was yawning.